Changes in leg/hip muscles after riding EUC

[Banjaxt]

Hi All, 

I've been riding for about 3 weeks most nights now and I'm noticing my legs/hips feel weird. 

I think I'm naturally toes-outwards when I walk and riding my EUC forces me to bring them together more pointing forwards. I'm finding walking feels odd after riding, - I walk slower and sometimes it's more difficult. When I walk my toes seem to want to toe-in more as well. I think I'm either straining muscles in my groin or just using muscles I don't normally use during exercise (I'm a cyclist) while I ride. Has anyone else noticed this? Is it a common thing and does it just take getting used to? 

 

[alcatraz]

Very common. You use different muscles on the euc.

My knee is very strong now but was weak. My soles used to tingle but are now solid. 

Also some discomfort comes from not being able to relax some muscles.

Some muscles need to build up, some need to relax. Just ride and let it happen gradually. Don't do extreme riding too fast. I'm riding 3 years and still developing. 

For safety it's important to keep your legs moving so the wheel can move up/down, because the wheel has almost no suspension. Your legs have to do it.

The problem is that by relaxing the legs you risk crashing because you don't have control of the wheel. So you need have strong muscles to clinch the wheel in an instant if needed but not disable the up/down movement. It's quite interesting to master. It's like relaxing some muscles but tightening others. Basically the opposite of running/walking.

During my first year I thought 16x2.125inch tires were useless because I almost crashed going over some bumps at 20km/h. Now I can fly over them relaxed at 30+. It's all in the legs. 

I don't lust over 3-4inch tires anymore like I did before. Now they just look heavy and bulky.

Relaxed legs also help to avoid power spike the wheel and as such can prevent a cutout from happening. When you hit a bump with stiff legs the wheel is basically crying. The faster you go the more dangerous that spike is.

[Rywokast]

hmm, no idea.. doesnt feel like anything at all to me, wondering why you feel you have to point your toes in though? a lot of people have very different foot positions that include pointing their toes outwards.. but anyways whatever weird feelings or muscle strain you feel, like anything, will pass in time

[Banjaxt]

22 hours ago, alcatraz said:

Very common. You use different muscles on the euc.

My knee is very strong now but was weak. My soles used to tingle but are now solid. 

Also some discomfort comes from not being able to relax some muscles.

Some muscles need to build up, some need to relax. Just ride and let it happen gradually. Don't do extreme riding too fast. I'm riding 3 years and still developing. 

For safety it's important to keep your legs moving so the wheel can move up/down, because the wheel has almost no suspension. Your legs have to do it.

The problem is that by relaxing the legs you risk crashing because you don't have control of the wheel. So you need have strong muscles to clinch the wheel in an instant if needed but not disable the up/down movement. It's quite interesting to master. It's like relaxing some muscles but tightening others. Basically the opposite of running/walking.

During my first year I thought 16x2.125inch tires were useless because I almost crashed going over some bumps at 20km/h. Now I can fly over them relaxed at 30+. It's all in the legs. 

I don't lust over 3-4inch tires anymore like I did before. Now they just look heavy and bulky.

Relaxed legs also help to avoid power spike the wheel and as such can prevent a cutout from happening. When you hit a bump with stiff legs the wheel is basically crying. The faster you go the more dangerous that spike is.

Thanks for your input man! Yeah I'm slowly getting used to relaxing as it's always best in all extreme activities (I ride mtbs since 15, road bike 7 yrs and snowboard 15 years. I'm 40 now)

Even when an unexpected hazard happens I try to handle it as calmly (and quickly) as possible without freaking out and freezing up but it's super-difficult on the euc. Getting there slowly but I'm acutely aware of what can happen if you over-estimate your ability from crashing bikes/boards many, many times. I've only decked it and injured myself (bruises) twice since starting 3 weeks ago and both times in high winds/rain which isn't terrible. I can ride fine forwards but not mount elegantly without a wall/rail. Not gonna worry too much about the weirdness in my legs unless it gets worse but I think riding has made me aware of a kink in my spine my doc told me I had (but never noticed) as I don't ever feel I'm fully facing forwards when I'm going dead straight, which is odd! 

Relaxing is tricky. I got in a weird shaking/wobbling feedback loop the other night where if I hit the slightest bump my legs would shake almost uncontrollably and I'd have to stop or I'd crash. Was fine later but very odd and messed with my confidence, which is absolutely key to riding EUC properly without crashing - more than bikes or boards. If I'm not confident of my (limited) abilities then I feel out of control, go out of control and lose it. It's great mind training. 

Tyres on the Tesla seem pretty good. Grippy AF in wet/dry so far but I've not pushed it like a pro might. Did lust after the Z10 initially (mainly because of the fat tyre) but it seems too 'safe' for me as it doesn't lean left/right which would freak me out. I'm happy with the Tesla v2 but I'm also aware it's not a toy/beginner wheel and doesn't deal with bumps as well as others. Any tyres you can recommend specifically? Mine is a generic Cheng Shin 16x 2.125

Re: power spikes: I'm not pushing my wheel to limits power-wise. As soon as it beeps I back off/get off, always.  I ride it down to 20% before recharging and use a trickle charger to help with battery life/conditioning. Trying to take care of it as best I can. Hitting bumps with straight legs scares the crap out of me if it's significant! That's what started the weird wobble thing..

[Banjaxt]

22 hours ago, Rywokast said:

hmm, no idea.. doesnt feel like anything at all to me, wondering why you feel you have to point your toes in though? a lot of people have very different foot positions that include pointing their toes outwards.. but anyways whatever weird feelings or muscle strain you feel, like anything, will pass in time

It's weird and tricky to describe. I didn't think I noticed walking massively 'toes-out' before riding EUC but afterwards the only way I can describe the feeling was it felt like I'd been unnaturally rotating my legs/feet inwards, pointing/holding my toes in that position for a long time. It felt like my legs (at the hip specifically) were now rotated inwards a bit and wanted to point inwards, which I guessed was at war with my usual gait/walk. I could be totally wrong in my guesses. It could well be muscles I've not used activating, suddenly being stressed, spasming and causing havoc elsewhere (like with 'referred' pain) 

I'm just curious to hear others who have had walking weirdnesses and posture problems/gait changes after starting EUCs to see if there's a 'tennis elbow' for EUC riders  

[Flying W]

I too walk a little "duck" footed. I also ride the wheel with my feet slightly too out. 

5k plus miles in and knew and hip issues are doing way better now. 

It wasnt until I read here (sorry dont remember who said it) to mount without looking at your feet and find the comfortable spot that I realized my feel like different placement on each side. 

There are a lot of people who ride with a asymmetric stance too. My left foot is slightly forward and the toes not as far out from the wheel compared to my right foot. 

It's all very personal to the rider but I did in fact have walking issues before I found my comfy place on the pedals. IMHO its 80% conditioning but that last 20% can make a big difference on med to long distance rides. 

 

[Harvey Pooka]

As already mentioned, your body in training new muscles so some strengthening of them will occur over time. If your riding stance is radically different than your natural standing stance, just remember to stretch more. You are pulling your ligaments in weird (for you) directions. But also keep in mind you are also developing your brain (neuroplasticity). When learning anything new, your brain needs time to develop. Sometimes wobbles, or clinching your legs/feet,  is your brain reacting more than necessary because it hasn't learned the right amount of adjusting needed to keep you up. It'll get better.

When I started, I also turned my feet more parallel/inwards as it gave a more constant/secure grip on the wheel which I needed. As my natural balance and adjustment developed, I notice I rode with  only light contact on the sides. My feet actually turned more outwards again without my realizing it.

[Blueblade]

Personally I didn't experience anything like you describe, mine was all below the knees... tight calves, aching feet, and shin bone pain where it pushes against the EUC while scooting on one foot/learning to mount, and it limited how much I could practice in the beginning.

It all improved or went away with time and experience.  Roughly half of it was conditioning of muscles not used this way before, and half of it was just learning to relax.